The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), Ministry of Science and Technology hosts the opening ceremony of the Regional Observatory for the Public, Chachoengsao on 2nd February 2018. With the boundless benevolence of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who graciously presides over the event in Wang Yen, Plaeng Yao District, Chachoengsao Province.

The much-anticipated annual program under ‘SEA-ROAD’ – Southeast Asian Regional Office of Astronomy for Development, a regional node in which NARIT takes charge acting, has once again commenced as ‘NARIT ASEAN Astronomy Camp 2018’ welcomed 40 ASEAN-wide high school participants, 8 from Thailand, 2 from Lao PDR, 2 from Myanmar, 4 from Vietnam, 8 from Cambodia, 4 from Indonesia, 4 from Malaysia and 8 from the Philippines and their 10 accompanying affiliated lecturers to the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand where NARIT Headquarters is situated. The Camp was held for the fourth time for four consecutive days during 25 – 28 January 2018, 3 of which they spent atop Doi Inthanon National Park.

The first winter school of 2018 under the International Training Centre in Astronomy under the auspices of UNESCO (ITCA) kicked off with a great start on Jan 15, 2018. This year NARIT and SOKENDAI co-host the school under the theme “Astrophysical Masers and Molecular Lines in Astronomy” with the help of prominent figures in Radio Astronomy from leading institutes across the globe.

The 9th Southeast Asia Astronomy Network Meeting (SEAAN 2017) turned out to be a great success by all means of the international standards with overwhelming enthusiasm from amateur astronomers, lecturers and students alike. To keep the positive vibes going, the Local Organizing Committee, consisting of University of Mandalay, National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) – NARIT, International Astronomical Union Office for Astronomy Outreach (IAU OAO) and National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) teamed up with anticipation to organize the parallel workshops “You are Galileo!” and “Introduction to Astronomy” held on the ground of Convocation Hall, University of Mandalay for 2 consecutive days to welcome the festive December.

Much of the public interests were drawn to the field of astronomy while the 9th Southeast Asia Astronomy Network Meeting – SEAAN 2017 was commencing in the heart of the second-most largest and historic urban of Mandalay in the morning of November 29th 2017 with over 200 undergraduates, faculties, and the public attended the event. Co-hosted by the University of Mandalay (its Department of Physics) and the Thai counterpart, National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) under the bilateral signed MoU in 2016, SEAAN 2017 resumes for the 9th time since its very first 10 years ago in 2007.